The Effect of Ecotourism on Macaws at Clay Licks

Shapiro

“The Effect of Ecotourism on Macaws at Clay Licks”

Julie Shapiro Center for the Environment Fund for Undergraduate Research Final Report

I conducted research on the feeding behavior of macaws, parrots, and parakeets at clay licks. Clay licks are deposits of dirt located on banks of rivers and streams and are common throughout the Amazon region. This material contains minerals that are essential for many macaws, parrots, and parakeets, as well as other avian species and occasionally mammals. These substances also neutralize the toxins that the birds ingest from eating unripe fruit. Some scientists also theorize that this behavior could be important socially as the birds, especially parrots and parakeets, typically feed on the clay in large groups (although this may simply be to protect against predators) (Brightsmith et al., 2004)

Clay licks located on the banks main rivers, such as the Tambopata River, where I conducted research, are subject to heavy boat traffic from ecotourists as well as local farmers. I was interested in quantifying the effect of these regular and frequent disturbances on the birds’ behavior at the lick by comparing observations from two separate locations, one remote and the other on the banks of the Tambopata River. I collected data from a very remote and inaccessible clay lick, “Secreta,” located on the banks of a small river, about 2.5 miles from the Tambopata River. I monitored this location forty days in total from mid-June until mid-August between the hours of 6:15 AM and 11:15 AM, although there was some variation in start time due to a five mile hike to the clay lick. Weather was recorded in regular intervals. Once the birds began feeding, a count of individuals, by species, was taken every three minutes. Original protocol adapted from the Tambopata Macaw Project takes counts every five minutes, but feeding behavior was extremely irregular and often for short intervals with more frequent changes in numbers and flushes, which is when the birds become scared and fly away from the lick. After a flush, they can leave the area entirely or remain in the trees close to the clay lick. Partial flushing, when only part of a group leaves, is also common. If the birds remain in the area, sometimes they will return to feed again. I took notes on average feeding time per species, average number of flushes per species per feeding, and percent of times each species returned to the clay lick after flushing. I also looked at overall trends in total number of days birds were observed at the lick and the chronology of feeding for each species. This was later compared to feeding behavior recorded by other Tambopata Macaw Project volunteers at a clay lick exposed to the frequent, heavy boat traffic of the Tambopata River, “Hermosa.” This preliminary research may indicate that birds could be habituated to boat traffic and this is not having a significant, negative effect on their ability to feed at clay licks.

On the most basic level, a far larger percent of observed days had feeding at Hermosa than Secreta. In fact, there, feeding was observed by at least one species every day at Hermosa while Secreta had many days without any bird species observed feeding on the clay lick. For dusky-headed parakeets, orange-cheeked parrots, and scarlet macaws, the

1 Shapiro percentage of days with observed feeding was roughly the same. Cobalt-winged parakeets and blue and yellow macaws were the only species observed more often in Secreta than Hermosa.

Feeding times also varied widely by species and most had a significant range. Parrots and parakeets generally fed for a bit longer than the macaws. Feeding activity was also very low for all species except cobalt-winged parakeets, in June, peaked in July, and seemed to be falling again in August, although monitoring ended in mid-August. There were no apparent indicators for this change in behavior. Cold and rainy weather usually decreases clay lick activity, but July was coldest and rainiest month in this time period. Another clay lick was found close by across the river and activity and environment there could also have had an effect at Secreta.

I then decided that monitoring the rate of flushing and returning would be a good measure of disturbance. If birds were flushing more often per feeding, indicating more fright, and also returning less at Hermosa, it could indicate a change in behavior due to fear of the heavy boat traffic. But here, the results were unexpected, as rates of return after flushing were similar in both sites, and in fact, higher for all species, except for mealy parrots, in Hermosa. This suggests that boat traffic overall has not had a significant impact on the birds’ ability to feed. They may be less timid than the birds less exposed to anthropogenic affects. However, this habituation could have negative affects as well that have yet to be investigated, such as increased predation on the less-frightened birds when they feed at other clay licks.

This research is important because macaws, parrots, and parakeets are important for the rainforest ecosystem. Feeding at clay licks is thought to be essential for their health and disturbances to this behavior must be minimized, especially because they are timid and vulnerable when feeding. Therefore, understanding, and quantifying, how humans could be negatively affecting this behavior is essential for minimizing the worst of these anthropogenic threats and maintaining the intricate balance of this tropical ecosystem.

In addition, observing the colorful birds at their licks, has become a very popular activity with ecotourists. Ecotourism has the potential to help develop this poor region while conserving the environment. It is important to understand how this could be affecting the macaw, parrot, and parakeet behavior not only in terms of ecological importance, but to ensure that the tourists’ own activities are not potentially degrading their experience and satisfaction.

2 Shapiro

Figures:

Days of Observed Feeding

Number of Days 8 Total days feeding June feeding 6 July Feeding 4 August feeding

0 Cobalt Dusky- Orange- Blue- Scarlet Red and Blue and Mealy Black- winged headed cheeked Headed Macaw Green Gold Parrot capped parakeet parakeet parrot parrot Macaw Macaw parakeet Species

Percentage of Observed days With Feeding

90 80 70 60 50 Percentage of Days 40 Secreta 30 Hermosa 20 10 0 C o b a l t D u s k y - O r a n g e - B l u e - S c a r l e t R e d a n d B l u e a n d M e a l y B l a c k - w i n g e d h e a d e d c h e e k e d H e a d e d M a c a w G r e e n G o l d P a r r o t c a p p e d p a r a k e e t p a r a k e e t p a r r o t p a r r o t M a c a w M a c a w p a r a k e e t Species

Time for Feeding by Species

70 Average 60 Feeding Time

50 Lowest 40 observed Minutes feeding 30 increment 20 Highest observed 10 increment

0 Cobalt Dusky- Orange- Blue- Scarlet Red and Blue and Mealy Black- winged headed cheeked Headed Macaw Green Gold Parrot capped parakeet parakeet parrot parrot Macaw Macaw parakeet Species

3 Shapiro

Percentage of Times Flushed Birds Returned

90 80 70 60 Percentage of 50 Returns 40 Secreta 30 Hermosa 20 10 0 C o b a l t D u s k y - O r a n g e - B l u e - S c a r l e t R e d a n d B l u e a n d M e a l y B l a c k - w i n g e d h e a d e d c h e e k e d H e a d e d M a c a w G r e e n G o l d P a r r o t c a p p e d p a r a k e e t p a r a k e e t p a r r o t p a r r o t M a c a w M a c a w p a r a k e e t Species

Percentage of Times Flushed Birds Returned

90 80 70 60 Percentage of 50 Returns 40 Secreta 30 Hermosa 20 10 0 C o b a l t D u s k y - O r a n g e - B l u e - S c a r l e t R e d a n d B l u e a n d M e a l y B l a c k - w i n g e d h e a d e d c h e e k e d H e a d e d M a c a w G r e e n G o l d P a r r o t c a p p e d p a r a k e e t p a r a k e e t p a r r o t p a r r o t M a c a w M a c a w p a r a k e e t Species

References: Brightsmith D.J. (2004) Effects of weather on avian geophagy in Tambopata, Peru. Wilson Bulletin 116:134 -145.